NV Dad Seeks Health Benefits for Local Officials

A provincial board member here has called on the Department of Health (DOH) to implement medical and health benefits for barangay officials through the state-run hospitals in the country.

Board Member Victor Gines, Jr., SP committee chair on barangay affairs, said he was pushing for a proposed resolution to ask DOH Secretary Francisco Duque, Jr. to implement the provisions of the Local Government Code of 1991, providing for the medical and health benefits and privileges for local officials.

LGC Section 393 (b) (3) provides Punong  Barangays, Sangguniang Bayan Members, Barangay Treasurers and Secretaries for their rights and benefits to free medical care including subsistence medicines and medical attendance in any government hospital or institution provided that such hospital care shall include surgery or surgical expenses, medicines, X-rays, laboratory fees and other expenses.

Gines lamented that such provision is not strictly observed by government hospitals in the country.

“This has brought financial burden to our fellow barangay officials, some of them have to personally enroll to the PhilHealth while others have to buy their own medicines and pay their hospital bills out of their pocket,” he added.

Gines also appealed to Duque to issue a Memorandum Circular to strengthen the implementation of the LGC provision for the benefit of local officials.

He added that local officials in the province have confirmed their support to the proposed resolution, asking the intervention of the DOH for the immediate and strict compliance of government hospitals and institutions for the benefit of local officials in the province and the country as well.

Gines said the province’s local officials signified their support during the 2018 Barangay Congress in Baguio City. (ALM/BME/PIA 2-Nueva Vizcaya)